Spring 2011 Runway: Alejandro Ingelmo at Cushnie et Ochs
posted by: brianka in High heels, Platforms, Pumps, Sandals, Spring 2011 Shoes on September 11th, 2010
Just when I think I can’t bear to sea another stud, zipper, or spike without letting loose with a blood-curdling scream, along comes fashion week & Alejandro Ingelmo to remind me that it’s not the fault of the studs and spikes per se. but rather about the art and balance of the shoe as a whole (or unfortunate lack thereof) from a given designer or manufacturer. Thankfully, not all designers subscribe to the ‘more is better’ school of thought.
Enter Alejandro Ingelmo’s spiked shoes for Cushnie et Ochs.
Backstage at Cushnie et Ochs, Photo via NYMag.com; Full slide show is available here.
This is one of those examples of Runway showing it’s primal nature as theatre. These shoes are both subtle and intimidating. From the front, the spikes are barely noticeable; but in a side-silhouette, they become quite fierce and attention-drawing.
There is art here. At a minimum, these are unabashed statement shoes. Yet I also see them as also needing to be viewed under glass, on a pedestal, as pure art objects outside of their basic fashion function.
In no way can I see these as practical shoes for the average wardrobe, and I shudder to think on how less creative minds may try to translate the spirit of these into inexpensive and less-soulful retail versions.
As for the Cushnie et Ochs fashions?
There was an interesting mix of hard against soft; of structured leathers and tailoring against softly-flowing fabrics. But there was nothing that I was particularly swooning over. But, then again, if you are wearing stunning power shoes like these spiked Ingelmo creations, you hardly need your clothes to be making any additional or competing statements, do you?
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September 17, 2010 at 10:27 am, galligator said:
A little more conservative than the CL for Rodarte, perhaps? It seems almost an oxymoron to say that, but there you go.
September 12, 2010 at 6:29 pm, bootstrapperboy said:
reminds me of the Loubos' for Rodarte, I like: http://tumblr.com/xa24w2ebz
September 12, 2010 at 7:39 am, r5bales said:
Are they metal? Are they hard leather? Odd. Just odd.
September 11, 2010 at 11:05 pm, AEJ said:
Those shoe spikes look like a convenient way to carry around an extra roll of toilet paper.
September 11, 2010 at 10:33 am, galligator said:
We’re barely into SS2010 fashion week, but it’s nice to see that there are some intriguing shoes showing up already without having to wait for London & Paris.
I’ll admit that on further examination, I’d hate to trip in these! That would be an emergency room visit for certain.
September 11, 2010 at 6:36 am, Valentina said:
They’re like unicorns for your feet. I love them!